I did not take my camera with me on this trip. I had 300 lbs of luggage and knowing we were going to have to schelp them up a 5 floor walk up my camera seemed the most reasonable thing to leave behind. I mean really? I could not have left behind one of 5 coats I took, or perhaps one of 8 pairs of shoes for my 4 day journey. That would have been RIDICULOUS. So here are some camera phone pics to show you my fair city that I love so much.

How I love cabs. It was raining when April and I got there. The perfect vantage point of watching the city is in a cab.

Sunday and Monday were like this. Sunny, crisp and deceitful. They bring weather in like this, just for me, tempting me to move to the great city. For the record, just a few months to live there is all I would need. preferrably, April, May, June but whatevs.

We met the most interesting people, or rather I did as most of them were friends of the people I was with. Michele Mitchell, Journalist and author was just one. She filled us up with Champagne at her amazing Soho loft and then we went around the corner to Bubble Bar for more. I was bubbled out. I drank more that night then I probably have all year. We did not drink this Pol Roger it was a prop at the bar. I happened to be drunk facebooking from the bar and took this photo. The next day my friend April who knows her stuff with food and wine saw my post and said "omg we weren't drinking Pol Roger were we?" Apparently it's lovely and very pricey.

The photo I was not suppose to take inside of the theater [I didn't know it at the time] Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon. It was beyond lovely. If you're in NYC I think you should go. [The woman that played Rosanne's Sister I can't think of her name is the big name in the play but all of the actors were just fantastic]

The opening party as I mentioned was at Tavern On The Green. Have you been? It's bizarre to say the least. And my whole SJP thing? well, that didn't happen they weren't there. Instead, we got Joan Rivers who matched the weird decor much better. She's looks amazingly normal in person [for someone pulled tighter than a drum].

The girls all dolled up. Me, Finnerty Steeves [you'll be hearing more about her very soon], and April my best buddie. We look pretty snazzy.

If you need me on Saturday night just ring me here. Ask for SJP she and I will be having cocktails at the bar if you need us

Just found out today that this is where the Broadway party will be held. Apparently it's closing soon? Not sure if it's just for a renovation or for good. Either way Tavern on the Green kids. I'm so excited.

Monday, October 19, 2009

If you're a fan of Melisa over at LiL Bee you'll know she's about ready to pop. She has some guest writers going on till Ms. Thang decides to join us, the first being the hilarious SGM. Her story is super cute about days with John Boy and the Waltons. While I was reading I remembered Emergency. Remember the hottie side kick? John Gage right? Wasn't that his name? Man, I had an 9 year old thing for him.

If you'll be in the Orange County area I highly suggest you check out this designer tag sale put on by the fabulous Vanessa De Vargas of Turquoise and the gals from Domicile Interior Design, Keri Shrimpton and Vanessa Kogevinas.for more info visit their site at DESIGNER TAG SALE OC Look for my cards in the goodie bags [get there early!]

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Please imagine...That you're traveling to NYC in 2 weeks time. A last minute trip with a free plane flight [flyer miles] and a free place to stay [friend] great hu?

Now imagine that you're traveling to NYC in 2 weeks time to support your dear friend who's play is opening on Broadway [her very first I might add]. Imagine being invited to go with her to the opening night's party.

Now Imagine this play's lead actor is Matthew Broderick. Imagine Matthew Broderick attending such party with his lovely wife seen here below. The patron saint of style.

Now imagine traveling to NYC to attend the play and the opening party that said patron saint may-or-may not be attending and realizing that potentially everything in your closet that you've purchased this summer is from Target. I might also have you imagine that you've gained oh 6lbs. so that your normal clothes are beginning to resemble a sausage casing on you.

Monday, October 12, 2009

I forgot it was Columbus Day, which in the grand scheme doesn't mean much to I think anyone except those that were lucky to have the day off, or unlucky to have their children off and not have work off. That seems to be a common thread.

What I remembered today after someone announced it was Columbus Day was today was my Grandma's birthday while she was alive. Although it really wasn't which has an amusing story behind it. My grandmother was one of three sisters. Grandma was born here [wahlita was pregnant with her on the boat ride over from Spain is how I remember it] but two of the sisters had similar birthdays in October one on the 22nd one on the 12th or was it the 11th? I'm not sure.

At some point there was a fire, and they lost all the documentation and Wahlita [my bad spanish version of great-grandma btw] forgot which birthday went with which kid. So they picked the date and the kid and my Grandma's birthday was forever linked with Columbus Day. At some point in my 20's one of the sisters finally did the work and got new certificates which is when they realized that Grandma's birthday was really the 22nd.

So this is my Grandma Carmen. She's looking pretty spiff in this photo I think. She was in her late teens or 20's but it's one of my favorites of her. I think it was taken at the ranch, the one my great-uncle lived on, not the one my dad still owns. The light on the porch seems to remind me of that place.

Grandma was a tiny woman, spoke fluent [proper] Castilian Spanish which I sadly did not learn. I would love to here her call Wahlita and speak to her on the phone [Wahlita forgot her English in her old age]. She had pretty hands and wore a beautiful black band watch with diamonds around it. She had an Opal the size of her knuckle that she wore often on her right hand with her diamond wedding band on her left that reminds me of something I saw in the window at Cartier a few years ago. This is what I remember of her, mostly her hands. I must have been at eye level with them for a very long time. Maybe we held hands a lot while she was alive. This, this I can't recall. So today not so much Columbus but Grandma Silva. She's still with me though I feel her often.

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

I've been printing A LOT for a client recently, why I've been absent here from class. It's solitary sometimes, sometimes good thinking time but mostly it's ipod time. I'm an obsessive music person, or is it lazy? I'm not sure. I have the habit of finding a cd that I love and listening to it and maybe three others over and over for months on end. And though they get changed out every six months or so there are solid cd's / albums, whatever we're calling them now, that I've listened to for a couple of years.

Teddy Thompson, [son of Richard Thompson and corrected Linda Thompson's who sings on the album, if you're a music person]. Got attached to the Peruvian that I dated on and off for over a year that I nicknamed Mr. Big. He was way too much like the character from SATC.

when this happens, and I'm sure it's not just me, but it gets attached to a person or a series of events that I was going through at the time of my music obsession. I guess I knew this about myself but not to the extent that I paid attention to it over this past week [I should know better as R.E.M and Pearl Jam make me want to hurl thanks to the ex-husband].

I clicked on some oldies and as soon as the first track began I would think of the person attached. It's weird to me to have this visceral experience with music, scents and even the change of light [seasons] that will bring back memories of someone.

John Mayer's first CD got attached to the photographer I lived with. This was at the beginning of our relationship = happy memories which I love that I can remember.

Granted, a lot of the albums I listened too this past week were connected with men I dated [not all! but this is more fun], or lusted after and dumped me, or never liked me and I chased. They're not the sappy love song sort of connections though, just good music that got attached to them by accident so here's a flashback of my past few days in the studio and my spotty romantic past.

Lenny Kravitz's first brilliant album got attached to my on and off again college guy. He's still a good friend of mine [and his wife] we got past all the romance crap.

Rachael Yamagata which is still in current rotation and why it's attached to my greatest love, Chris.

Monday, October 05, 2009

It's horrible, I don't think I've ever told you about Mark Sasway? I don't know why, maybe he hasn't had a website for very long, maybe I just didn't think about it. I don't know why forgive me. Wait, have I and I've already forgotten? This too is possible, because I'm losing my mind as we speak if I haven't told you till now.

Mark is a talented illustrator that I worked with at the office when I went to one and like most everyone in advertising has a hobby/career outside of those office walls. Mark took some of his paintings and had Giclee prints made this year as part of an solo show he had. It makes art so much more affordable that way.

You should check out his full site here. I think he should have an Etsy store don't you think? We might need a buy it now feature.

This motel sign...I didn't see this at the show but is now on the short list of favorites. Because I have this neon obsession if I haven't mentioned.

Friday, October 02, 2009

I know you'll all be jealous when I tell you but I'm a Mondo Beyondo girl [cue 007 music here].

What is a Mondo Beyondo girl? Well, I'm not sure just yet. It starts Monday, an online e-course in getting clear, setting big wild dreams ahead and then getting there [somehow]. Imagine Oprah's biggest dreams smashed together with The Secret. At least this is what I think it will be. I hope it will be.

Class is full for this session but if you're interested in it, there will be another starting in Jan 2010. I highly advise registering now though as they sell out pretty quickly. You can read all about it here or you can visit one of the instructors the amazing Andrea of Superhero Journal. I'll report back and let you know how it all goes.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

I can't believe it's October today. Please make it stop going so fast will ya?

I feel like I've been working my arse off and I don't have anything to show you. Some of it's top secret still, some of it just hasn't been photographed, some of it just isn't anything really of note [it was to them but not so much here]

I really want to show you the top secret thing. It involves someone we all know and love but she hasn't launched it yet. I hope she does soon cuz I'm standing here with my hand pointing frantically in the air "I have something for show and tell!!!" and Yes, it demanded three !!! that's how fun it is.

I hired an intern to eventually be a paid position. I'm excited about this. He is a dear old friend of mine who's had some rough times lately so it will be a big help to both of us. He was also my prom date from high school if I didn't mention, and if I can find a photo of us I'll embarrass myself publicly for all of you to have a good laugh. I showed him the map of my business plan, well it's more a sheet of paper with a lot of stuff written on it and he said "are you ready for this?" and I said, I don't have a choice, I don't want to back to the bullshit.

and on a really good note... remember my science experiment this summer? it's working. I haven't had to take pain medicine for three weeks now. Things are changing and for the good.